Steve Bruce claims Jonjo Shelvey suffers by an”perception” problem however has witnessed enough to think about handing him that the Newcastle captaincy.
Frequent Magpies skipper Jamaal Lascelles has been ruled out until the new year with a fractured tibia, meaning Bruce not only has to choose a replacement at centre-half but a new pioneer too.
Although the latter has to first establish his fitness after returning with a bang ever-present goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and defender Ciaran Clark could come under consideration because stand-ins for the Monday Night Football trip to Aston Villa.
However, Bruce can be tempted by Shelvey. Despite acknowledging a few of the concerns he’s heard about dedication and the participant’s robustness, those concerns do not tally with his own experience of this 27-year-old, who has impressed his eagerness to work back to full fitness .
“[Shelvey] appears like the ordinary one, to place it upon him, and I have no issue with this,” explained Bruce.
“He’s got this perception about him that he does not care… that is incorrect. He is a pro, he’s a fantastic lad, and he’s popular.
“He trains well and I have no problem. If it seems to be that I will not angry that [using the captaincy], then we will give it to him.”
Shelvey has just featured in half the 12 Premier League games of the club thus far but Bruce has shown that is at least down to fitness worries.
“I think Jonjo took an accident for a while and tried to just play it and play it and I think that’s hampered him for a while,” he said.
“His physicality was excellent in the last two games and also this perception that he can not run isn’t right. I think he is fit and he’s got to hit on those levels.
“If he hits those levels with me then he’ll be fine since all of us know the capacity he’s got, it’s the other side that you know he has to do and he’s done it.”
Aston Villa vs Newcastle is live on Monday Night Football in 7pm; kick-off 8pm. Clips can be watched by sky Sports clients in the live game site on the Sky Sports website and app.
Highlights are also published on the Sky Sports Football YouTube station and the Sky Sports programs shortly.